IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 540 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week on May 6, 2014, 

through May 12, 2014. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 3, 2014 

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas (for herself, Mr. JOYCE, Ms. SHEAPORTER, and Mr. COFFMAN) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week 

on May 6, 2014, through May 12, 2014. 

Whereas since 1991, National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6, also known as National Recognition 

Day for Nurses, through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing; 

Whereas National Nurses Week is a time of year to reflect 

on the important contributions that nurses make to provide safe, high-quality health care; 

Whereas nurses are known to be patient advocates, acting 

fearlessly to protect the lives of those under their care; 

Whereas nurses represent the largest single component of the 

health care profession, with an estimated population of 

3,100,000 registered nurses in the United States; 


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•HRES 540 IH 

Whereas nurses are leading in the delivery of quality care in 

a transformed health care system that improves patient 

outcomes and safety; 

Whereas the Institute of Medicine’s Future of Nursing report 

has called for the nursing profession to meet the call for 

leadership in a team-based delivery model; 

Whereas when nurse staffing levels increase, the risk of patient complications and length of hospital stays decrease, 

resulting in cost savings; 

Whereas nurses are experienced researchers, and their work 

encompasses a wide scope of scientific inquiry including 

clinical research, health systems and outcomes research, 

and nursing education research; 

Whereas nurses provide culturally and ethnically competent 

care and are educated to be sensitive to regional and 

community customs of persons needing care; 

Whereas nurses are well-positioned to provide leadership to 

eliminate health care disparities that exist in the Nation; 

Whereas nurses are the cornerstone of the public health infrastructure promoting healthy lifestyles and educating 

communities on disease prevention and health promotion; 

Whereas nurses are strong allies to Congress as they help inform, educate, and work closely with legislators to improve the education, retention, recruitment, and practice 

of all nurses and, more importantly, the health and safety 

of the patients they care for; and 

Whereas increased Federal and State investment is needed to 

support programs such as the Nursing Workforce Development Programs (Title VIII, Public Health Services 

Act) that celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2014, which 

bolster the nursing workforce at all levels, to increase the 


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•HRES 540 IH 

number of doctorally prepared faculty members, and to 

educate more nurse research scientists who can discover 

new nursing care models to improve the health status of 

the Nation’s diverse population: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of National 

3 Nurses Week, as founded by the American Nurses 

4 Association; 

5 (2) recognizes the significant contributions of 

6 nurses to the health care system of the United 

7 States; and 

8 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

9 to observe National Nurses Week with appropriate 

10 recognition, ceremonies, activities, and programs to 

11 demonstrate the importance of nurses to the every12 day lives of patients. 

Æ 


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